Various places are hiring for the holiday season such as The Very Idea off of the Murfreesboro square. / Photo by Cat Murphy.

Written by

Mychal Wilson

Staff Writer

For students who need to work and earn some extra income during the holiday break, many local businesses are hiring and holding job fairs for temporary help, specifically focusing on student workers.

Students can find the most job opportunities through SMX Staff Management, a staffing company, strives to fill more than 3,000 remaining positions at the Amazon Fulfillment Center. Positions through SMX are short-term jobs, but seasonal workers are sometimes hired full time, said Shawn Dunning, account director for staff management.

Wages vary from $10.50 for day shifts, to nights at $11.00 and up to $12.50 for weekend nights. Work shifts are offered 24 hours a day and will be available until Christmas. SMX offers a variety of incentives in addition to hourly wages to its recruits. This year the staffing company is offering $30,000 in incentives to include gift cards for perfect attendance, televisions, iPads and other electronic devices.

“We even do a big dinner for Thanksgiving for all of the people working through us,” Dunning said.

Applications can be filled out online or at the Murfreesboro office at 237 W. Northfield Blvd., Suite 104. Online applications for SMX are found at greatjobs.com where applicants create a profile and fill out applications.

Two-week positions are available during the beginning of December for those who want to wait until classes end.

“You never want to graduate without any work history,” Dunning said. “I try to mentor young people. They always ask, how can I become an account director? It takes some time because you have to build a resume.”

Dunning himself began his working career as an intern and worked his way up to his current position.

“You don’t want to just be a college student,” Dunning said. “You want to actually do internships. You want to actually work and build some type of skills so when you graduate you have some work experience to help you get into the workforce.”

Other large retail outlets need help too, as Kohl’s and Home Depot that are filling seasonal positions through the job search site snagajob.com. UPS and T-Mobile are filling temporary positions through monster.com.

The Salvation Army also needs bell ringers to help collect donations and offers both volunteer and hourly wage positions, said Lt. Monica Seiler of the Murfreesboro location. Collection centers and stores also have a need for short-term employees.